[2] However, in 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the park only had a 125-day operation season, along with limited capacity, leading to massively reduced visitor numbers.

The demolition of the Thorpe Park Estate in the 1930s transformed the grounds into a gravel pit, originally owned by Ready Mixed Concrete Limited.

Initial concepts planned for the attraction to be themed around the 'History of the British People as a Maritime Nation' achieved by flooding the now empty gravel pits[3] In 1975 the Water Ski World Championships were held on the lake.

In addition to lakes and parkland, the park featured a replica Stone Age cave, Celtic farm, Norman castle and Viking camp as well as ancient water vehicles and aircraft.

This period saw large investment with major attractions opening such as Tidal Wave in 2000, Colossus in 2002, Nemesis Inferno in 2003 and Stealth in 2006.

[12] On 17 July 2007, as part of the financing for the Tussauds deal, Merlin sold Thorpe Park to private investment firm Prestbury, under a sale and leaseback agreement.

In 2014, Merlin also decided to target a broader family-based market with new attractions such as Angry Birds Land and the park's onsite hotel.

[14] On 20 February 2019, the official Twitter account of Thorpe Park confirmed the permanent closure of Logger's Leap, a log flume that had opened in 1989 but had been closed since 2015 due to the Smiler accident at Alton Towers that year.

During the 2023 Fright Nights event the name was revealed to be 'Hyperia' and it was set to be the tallest and fastest rollercoaster in the UK, at a height of 236 feet (71.9 metres) and a speed of 81 mph (130 km per hour).

[16] In preparation for the opening of Hyperia, Merlin announced major new investment for the older areas of the park to get them up to standard ready for the record breaking new rollercoaster.

Over the closed season the Sparkle Project[17] began which was a large refurbishment of many areas of the park which saw the refitting of many shops, repaint work for Colossus and Stealth, a new footbridge over Tidal Wave and much more.

This leads to 'The Dome' which acts as a hub for the park, which houses 'Vibes Bar & Kitchen' (formerly Infinity Bar & Kitchen), an arcade area, The Coffee Shack, toilets, lockers, the Island Gift Shop, guest services, first aid, photo points and staff areas (canteen, 'The Core' and offices).

Much of the scenery and underwater effects went missing since Merlin's acquisition of the park and was removed altogether after the building's change of theme.

The Dome remains open outside park operating hours to provide entertainment and dining facilities for guests staying at Thorpe Shark Cabins, including a breakfast buffet.

At the end of the 2005 season, Zodiac was removed, and replaced with a new HUSS Enterprise (relocated from Drayton Manor, where it operated under the name Cyclone, until it had to be closed down due to noise complaints).

The area was previously named 'Canada Creek' and was the plaza for Logger's Leap, which opened in 1989 as one of the tallest log flumes in the world.

Fearless Valley also includes a Burger King, Victorious Games, Hyporium gift shop, Cloud Nine Treats and toilets themed to Hyperia.

SAW Alive, The Big Top and Platform 15 remained in operation from previous years, with Containment returning as an upcharge attraction.

This led to a wide selection of scare zones introduced for the first time to Fright Nights, with The Swarm: Invasion located on Swarm Island, Creek Freaks Unchained in Old Town, The Fearstival Arena in The Dockyard, The Howling of LycanThorpe High in Lost City (on the site near Zodiac and Rush typically used for a scare maze), and Terror at Amity High returning for its third year on the Stealth Plaza.

The Crows were also added as roaming actors dressed as scarecrows, based in a few main locations but found anywhere around the park, including interacting with other scare zones.

Guests can stay over on-park at the 'Thorpe Shark Cabins', comprising 90 rooms converted from shipping containers with a link to facilities in the adjacent Dome.

This would have been located on the opposite side of the lake, on the site of former excavation works, featuring a lakeside bar, health club and restaurant.

[58] Alongside this, leaflets were handed out to local residents, stating the proposal will 'involve the removal of existing old rides and replacement with a new roller coaster in the Old Town part of the resort'.

The public consultation began on 10 December 2021, with plans detailing a 236-foot (72 m) tall steel hyper coaster codenamed "Project Exodus".

[59] Objections were raised by Surrey Wildlife Trust, Natural England, and the Environment Agency; citing concerns regarding biodiversity impacts, pollution, and flood risks.

[60] The concerns raised by Surrey Wildlife Trust and Natural England were addressed, leading to their objections subsequently being withdrawn.

[61] On 5 October 2022, Runnymede Borough Council approved the application for "Project Exodus", but, due to the unresolved objection from the Environment Agency, the application had to be referred to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for approval[62] (under the terms of The Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2021).

Thorpe Park is served by the 950 express bus, which runs from Staines railway station,[71] from which journeys from London Waterloo or Reading can be made.

[72] There is also the seasonal 951 bus between Watford and Thorpe Park, operating once daily (arriving in the morning, departing in the evening) although there are two return journeys during Fright Nights.